City Officials Defend Hurricane Response Amid Councilman's Criticism I Houston Police

Acting Chief Larry Satterwhite joins Mayor John Whitmire, Acting OEM Director Thomas Muñoz, Fire Department Executive Assistant Chief Rodney West and others to address the City of Houston's response preparedness to Hurricane Beryl.

During a Houston City Council meeting, Councilmember Edward Pollard said the City was "not fully mobilized" in preparation for the storm. "We were having our officers come in on the day of the storm," he told a local media outlet, "putting those lives at risk." But Mayor Whitmire, Chief Satterwhite, Director Muñoz and others strongly disagree and detail otherwise.

"Words matter!" Mayor Whitmire says. Chief Satterwhite reiterates that, encouraging any City official questioning the preparations to contact him personally for a full outline. In the middle of the storm the Houston Fire Department made more than 3000 calls (compared to 1100 on an average day), including 82 high-water rescues. On Tuesday, HPD officers made 2,464 calls with 56 high-water rescues. HFD responded to 747 live wire calls.

The Emergency Operations Center was activated on Sunday, July 7th. All 9-1-1 call takers reported before the storm and took 3,000 calls. 3-1-1 call takers were on hand to do intakes also. 23 "AlertHouston" emergency alerts were sent out. "Our men and women spent the night, responded... and still continue to do that," says Director Muñoz. "The City was prepared. We were responding."

The Houston Fire Department staffed up their personnel starting July 6th, two days before Beryl hit Houston. Executive Assistant Chief West says, "The men and women (of HFD) worked countless hours to make sure the citizens were safe."

"This particular event had more widespread power issues than we've experienced before across the City... in the last 30 years," says Randy Macchi, Chief Operating Officer at Houston Public Works, "yet we did not... experience a boil water notice. That 's a testament to the preparation and the readiness exercise of all of our Public Works employees, as they were literally sleeping on the floor in all of our facilities." More than 1500 spots where trees were blocking streets across the City were cleared within eight days.

"Our people were ready!" says Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union. "Our rank and file officers out there are busting their butts to make sure the City's safe, even though they have damage at home."

"We need to come together, quit politicizing issues," Mayor Whitmire says, addressing Pollard's comments, "There'll be a time for a campaign or politics down the road. Let's continue to fix Houston, make public safety our highest concern."

A Spanish translation is provided at 33:00.

Produced by:
Houston Police Department
Office of Community Affairs
http://www.houstonpolice.org